Sew Many Dresses, Sew Little Time: The Ultimate Dressmaking Guide

I'm very impressed with this book - patterns are simple but interesting. I'll definitely be embellishing the dresses with some lace, etc. to add some interest, but simple patterns are a great starting point. There are a couple references in the beginning pages to 'if you have never sewn before'. The patterns are simple enough to sew as a beginner but I would not recommend this book to a beginner because pattern adjustments could lead to all types of questions. There is not too much hand-holding in the pattern instructions which is nice for an intermediate sewer. I wish there were a few pages on alterations to the back of the bodice - there is no mention of it, and the back can add so much interest to a dress. The paper patterns are more confusing than need to be - if there were dotted or dashed lines it would be easier to distinguish size lines and trace your pattern. Overall a really cute book at a good price considering the content & included patterns.

After falling in love with her fabric years ago, I'm a big Tanya Whelan fan. This book is a wonderful all-in-one resource that any seamstress should have. She makes it easy to design your own dress to achieve any design you can think up. It has patterns and directions that allow you to mix and match bodices (from halters to strapless!), skirts (short, long, in between) and sleeves (!!! this is what I've been looking for specifically!). You can customize a dress based on what makes you feel most comfortable. The diagrams and photos are lovely and very clear. There are so many tips scattered throughout, from in depth explanations to sewing in bodice linings with or without zippers - to adding boning! Information on hems and why some are better than others, sewing darts, diy-custom dress form instructions. Information on how and why to choose the fabrics for the dresses you are going to make. She left nothing out. If you're new at sewing, you need this book. If you're seasoned, you need this book. Anyone who sews - put this book on your shelf :) I'm so happy with this purchase, and only wish I had more seamstress friends I could gift it to.

I've been trying to teach myself how to sew after taking a single introductory class to sewing that covered the basics of the machine and hemming. So, I bought this book along with several others and found this to be the least beginner friendly -- at least, not for a novice like me. I've made dog coats, neckties and zippered pouches but that's about it. I intend to try the basic bodice and basic skirt out of this book, but have found myself needing to google terminology that the book does not describe. For example, I know what interfacing is (as I've had to use it in ties), but didn't know there was "facing" fabric as well. The book explains how to use facing fabric, lining fabric and interfacing, but does not explain what they are (obviously lining fabric is self-explanatory but this was the first time I ever heard of facing fabric). In any event, the book is still a tiny bit too advanced for me, but I love all the dress options and the fact that they allow for a very wide range of sizes (from 32-24-34 through to 50.5-42.5-52.5), which accommodates my small frame much better than a lot of other modern dressmaking books.

I'm so excited about this book!!! I'm an intermediate sewer. I've been sewing for more than 20 years but I prefer home dec projects to clothing because with sites like Sew4Home.com and sewmamasew.com where they turn out all free, all high quality patterns, my finished home dec projects have come put nicer than clothes patterns, which I still buy at the store and which sometimes work out great, and other times, are a total disaster (granted, Sew Mama Sew has lots and lots of clothes patterns, and whatever clothes I've sewed of theirs has turned out fantastic). For instance, last week I tried my first shirt dress, McCall's M6891, and had to read 4 blog posts about how to do the facing and collar, and it's still not perfect. Face punch. I already own Whelan's first book, Sew What You Love, which is a wonderful book and I've already made many of the patterns in this book (the on the go dress/top is a wardrobe--and sewing--game changer!!! Omg shirring!!!!! Where have you been all my life!!!!! Plus my friend's 3 year old loves the 2 apple pie poofs I made for her room!!!). When I saw the Sew Many Dresses book come out, I salivated like Pavlov's dog. At last, it is mine. Mine! The precious!!!! Erm ok. This review is my initial impressions of the book, before I've cut out a single pattern or piece of fabric. The premise of the book is simply fantastic--have a working vocabulary of half a dozen bodices, skirts, sleeves, and collars, and you can pretty much assemble any type of dress, from beach cover up to wedding gown, that fits YOU perfectly and is 100% a product of your own imagination--no one is going to have the same dress (any lady going to prom, a formal event, a ball, etc., understands how critical it is to be 100% original!!). I've read this book cover to cover and Whelan's directions are careful, clear, and inspiring. If you are a beginner or intermediate sewer, anxious about tackling things like a knit long sleeve dress, working with silk (what if you screw it up and it looks awful??? Sob!!!), inserting a zipper, sewing a shirt dress, or sewing a set-in sleeve, this book is for you. All the dresses are A-line shape, which is flattering for every body type (although there is a discussion on creating an empire waist). There is a LOT here to help you expand your sewing skills. The projects are beautiful but the lines of the dresses are unfussy, which makes these projects firmly in the realm of the home sewer. Once you feel proficient in the types of bodices and skirts, modifications can be made. For example, pockets could easily be inserted in the dirndl skirt, box-pleat skirt, straight skirt and its modifications, and circle skirt. I'm fairly certain you could adapt the mock-wrap bodice and the mandarin collar in order to create an Asian style dress with frog claps (and who doesn't absolutely love that look?!). To bring this review full circle, the McCall's dress pattern is $19.95. This book is less than $20 and contains the well written, beautiful patterns for over 200 dresses. You will be inspired with this book. Need I say more??? Seriously, buy it now!!! I will update my review after I make a dress or two!!!!!! Wish me luck!!!!!! [...] So making dresses in this book requires a significant time investment for the pattern preparation, deciding which tops and bottoms to combine, etc. I've decide to make one dress every month for a year, and I'm blogging about the experience: [...]

really good book, many dress variations, good descriptions, options for basics and more tailored designs too

Beautiful book with basic pattern n thier is technique how to manipulate it into new designs frm basic. Step by step technique shown how to sew it brilliant book for beginners .

I got this book previously and found it a great resource to get into the idea of adjusting patterns so bought a 2nd copy as I left the original with friends. in this book the vast majority of the ideas have a pattern for them but tehre is just enough to get my feet wet and see how patterns can be mixed and matched to get more into drafting/creating my own patterns. A stepping stone for those interestsed in this and for those who don't its still a great combo of versatile patterns.

Libro fantastico per chi ha già confidenza nel confezionare abiti. Il risultato finale è pari, se non migliore ai vestiti esposti nelle boutiques a caro prezzo. Potrete avere tutti i vestiti che avete sempre sognato in un unico libro! Mi ricorda tanto il "gira la moda" con qui giocavo sempre. Se in alcuni punti le misure vi sembrano inesatte, consiglio di usare tessuti molto elasticizzati.

Yes, you will have to draft, and you will have to fit your pattern, but instructions are clear and I know I'm going to learn a lot on the way. And it gives you so many possibilities: collars, sleeves, skirts, bodices.